Open letter to social housing landlord

August 14, 2008

Updated: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (09:17)

This is an open letter to Nigel Finney and the Luminus Group following the story in The Hunts Post (August 6) about developments at the Whaddons and Thongsley in Huntingdon. You asked how we came to the numbers of houses intended for the new development a

This is an open letter to Nigel Finney and the Luminus Group following the story in The Hunts Post (August 6) about developments at the Whaddons and Thongsley in Huntingdon.

You asked how we came to the numbers of houses intended for the new development at The Whaddons and Thongsley. Simple, we counted them on your proposal plans.

If these plans are not correct then why send them out for comment?

It is pointless to propose something and ask for people's reaction to it if you have no intention to stick to it - you are just building up ill-feeling in the community, not to mention the time, effort and money involved.

Also, you consistently refer to your 'tenants' when you must know a large proportion of us are not.

My next point is how can you say Luminus handles new developments with sensitivity? Time after time you push through plans that have been strongly rejected by the existing residents - Martin Luther King Close and Mayfield Road being prime examples.

Have you visited these areas lately? We, the residents, have complained of rubbish, vandalised play equipment, cars parked along Buttsgrove Way obscuring oncoming traffic, a burned out rubbish bin, graffiti and waist-high weeds on the verges and garden areas.

We have noted that despite Luminus' delight when these homes were built, the pattern has not been repeated in subsequent builds. This is not improving an area, this is reducing the quality of life for the existing residents, and to add further buildings will make life intolerable. What's more the only 'success' you gain from this project is the success of once again riding rough shod over people's cares and concerns to get your own way, regardless of how it affects us.

We have lived here since this estate was built and have enjoyed the green spaces and open aspects for over 40 years. Will you explain to me how building a block of flats in front of my house can possibly improve my quality of life or that of my neighbours'? I would really like to know.